Pivot assembly for haymaking machines and the like

ABSTRACT

A pivot assembly for the inwardly swingable outrigger beam of a rotary-rake haymaking implement having a pair of hollow beam sections relatively swingable to include an angle of 90* between them in one position thereof and axially aligned in another position thereof, a shaft extending through the beam sections and axially subdivided into a pair of interconnectable shaft sections disengaged from one another in said one position and mutually interconnected in said other position of the beam sections, and a ball joint interconnecting said beam sections for relative pivotal movement thereof between these positions about a vertical axis, laterally offset from the shaft in said other position and perpendicular to the axis thereof, and a horizontal axis generally parallel to one of the shaft sections, the axes intersecting one another.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Josef P'u'rrer Gottmakingen, Germany [21] Appl. No. 8,654 [22] Filed Feb. 4,1970

Division of Ser. No. 647,065 June 19, 1967 Pat. No. 3.509.707 [45] Patented June 8. 1971 [73] Assignee Maschinenfabrik Fahr Aktiengesellschaft Gottmadingen, Germany [32] Priority June 24, 1966 [33] Germany [31] M69954 [54] PIVOT ASSEMBLY FOR HAYMAKING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 56/370 [51] Int. Cl A0ld 79/00 [50] Field of Search 56/370, 365, 366, 6, 25.4

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,509,707 5/1970 Stampfer 56/370 Primary Examiner-Russell R. Kinsey Attorney-Karl F. Ross ABSTRACT: A pivot assembly for the inwardly swingable outrigger beam of a rotary-rake haymaking inplement having a pair of hollow beam sections relatively swingable to include an angle of 90 between them in one position thereof and axially aligned in another position thereof, a shaft extending through the beam sections and axially subdivided into a pair of interconnectable shaft sections disengaged from one another in said one position and mutually interconnected in said other position of the beam sections, and a ball joint interconnecting said beam sections for relative pivotal movement thereof between these positions about a vertical axis, laterally offset from the shaft in said other position and perpendicular to the axis thereof, and a horizontal axis generally parallel to one of the shaft sections, the axes intersecting one another.

PATENTED JUN 8 I97! SHEET 1 BF 4 Jose f PUrrer ln'venlor.

By 55; ff.

Attorney PATENTED JUN 8 I971 SHEET 2 BF 4 Josef PUrrer M VH7 Mr.

Attorney PATENTEUJUH 8197i SHEET 3 OF d Josef PUrrer lnvenior.

ttomey IPWOT ASSEMBLY FUR ll-llAYll/IAIQING MACHINES AND THE LIKE This application is a division of application Ser. No. 647,065 now Pat. 3,509,707 filed 19 June 1967.

My present invention relates to a pivot assembly for haymaking machines and, more particularly, to a haymalting machine having a support beam for a plurality of rotary rakes which is subdivided longitudinally into a plurality of beam sec tions, and to the pivot means for interconnecting these sectrons.

In the commonly assigned copending application Ser. No. 577,335, filed 6 Sept. 1966 and entitled HAYMAKING MACHINE AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME" (now Pat. No. 3,509,707), there is described and claimed a haymak ing machine adapted to be drawn by a towing vehicle, e.g. an agricultural tractor and to be driven by the power-takeoff shaft thereof. This rake, turner or tedder comprises a generally horizontal beam which is subdivided longitudinally into a plurality of beam sections, hingedly interconnected for swinging movement to enable the rotary rakes carried by these sections to be horizontally spaced-apart transversely to the direction of movement of the implement during haymaking operations or to be disposed one behind another when the implement is to be transported over narrow roads. Each beam section may be provided with respective support wheels upon which the beam rides and a plurality of rake heads forming housings for bevel gearing adapted to transmit the motive force from a shaft extending through and along the beam to the individual rakes. The latter have hubs rotatable generally about upright axes and radial arms carrying at their extremities spring fingers for engagement with the ground crop. It will be recognized that several problems are involved in the pivot systems by which the beam sections are hingedly interconnected since in the extended position of the beam, the drive shaft must be capable of transmitting power to the outermost rakes. In spite of the requirement for positive coupling of the beam sections, it is desirable that the outermost sections pivot about substantially vertical axes to permit the outer sections to swing inwardly and reduce the span of the machines. When the drive shaft passes through the beam sections, the difliculties increase. Moreover, the pivots are subject to considerable stress from ground drive, etc.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a pivot assembly for hollow beam sections of the character described wherein the beam sections can be swung through angles of about 90 relatively to one another and yet can have their respective drive shafts coupled in an extended position of the unit.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved retaining means for a pivot assembly for adjoining beam sections which is substantially unaffected by variations in the terrain.

I have found that the foregoing objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter can be attained in a relatively simple system for pivotally connecting the beam sections of an articulated support for a haymaking machine and especially a hollow horizontal support through which a rake-drive shaft extends, wherein a pivot is provided in the form ofa ball joint between the articulated beam sections and is laterally offset from the axis of the shaft while affording pivoting movement about an axis (vertical) perpendicular thereto and at least limited pivoting movement about a horizontal axis parallel to one ofthe beam sections.

The above and other objects, features and advantages ofthe present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 11 is a plan view, partly in axial section, of the articulating or pivot assembly of a beam section for haymaking machines;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the assembly in its angular state corresponding to the transport position of the machine, as contrasted with the operating position shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along the line III-III ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view ofa portion of the device of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are plan views of the interconnected parts of the pivot assembly; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a haymaking implement embodying the invention.

Referring first to FIG. 7, it can be seen that the implement basically comprises a support beam 101 which is subdivided longitudinally into sections 102, 103, I104, 105 and 106 by a pair of pivots 107 and 108 having vertical axes and a pair of pivots 109 and 110 having horizontal axes. The tractor 111 has a drawbar 112 to which beam member 104 is attached by a linkage 113 and a power-takeoff shaft 114 to which the connecting shaft 115 is joined by universal couplings. The shaft 115 is connected to the input shaft 116 of the implement by another universal coupling and in the manner described in the commonly assigned copending application mentioned above. Motion is transmitted through a drive shaft in the hollow beam sections 102 through 106 to the rakes 117 whose overlapping patterns are represented in dot-dash lines. Each rake com prises a hub (not shown) driven by bevel gearing within the respective rake head of the beam from the throughgoing shaft and with angularly equispaced radial arms 119 which carry spring fingers at their extremities as illustrated in the aforementioned copending application. When the apparatus is used for the raking, tedding or turning of hay, grass or other field crops, the beam 101 is extended transversely to the direction of advance of the implement (arrow 120) and treats a swath whose width W corresponds to the extended width of the assembly. For road transport, beam sections 103 and 105 are swung inwardly and rearwardly (dot-dash position) about their pivots 107 and 108, while arms 102 and 106 are swung upwardly and inwardly (dot-dash position) so that the contracted width w of the entire assembly is only a fraction of the original swath width. The pivots 107 through 110 may be constituted as described in connection with FIGS. 1 through 6.

In FIGS. 1 through 6 of the drawing, I show a pair of beam sections 1 through 12 which are hingedly interconnected for swinging movement about a pivotal axis represented at 5' and formed by the intersection of the vertical plane X-X and Y-Y, the axis 5' being offset inwardly from the vertical axial plane P ofthe beam sections 1 and 12 in their-extended state.

To this end, the support tube or beam section 1 is provided with a generally flat laterally extending flange 2 which, as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 5, lies generally in a horizontal plane and is offset from the axial plane P of the shafts 8, 11; in this flange 2, I provide an arcuate upstanding ridge 2 which is transverse to the plane of the flange 2 and is provided at angularly offset locations with radial bores 3 and 4 (FIGS. 2 and 5). The bore 4 lies generally in the vertical plane P of the pivot axis YY while the other bore (3) lies in the vertical plane P, of the axis X-X. At the intersection of these planes and of the axes X-X and Y-Y (FIG. 3), there is provided a ball joint which is described in greater detail below. This ball joint defines the vertical axis Z. The horizontal plane P of this ball joint contains the axes X-X and Y-Y.

The ball joint is formed by the spherical head 6 of a ball member whose cylindrical shank 6 is located in the tubular boss 2a of flange 2 by a setscrew 6a. At the lowermost extremity of the cylindrical shaft 6, there is provided a downwardly projected joint tongue 7 which projects into a longitudinal slot 14 at the free end ofa spring member 13. To receive the ball head 6', the lateral projection 12 of the tube 12 is formed with a spherical seat 12a which is open downwardly. Radially outwardly of this seat 12a with respect to the axis Z, there is provided a radial bore 12b in which a cylindrical locking bolt 16 is urged radially outwardly (arrow 12:) by a compression spring 17, the bolt 16 being dimensioned for engagement in the bores 3 and 4. A handle 18 projects from the bolt 16 and passes through a slot 19 of the sleeve 12 to enable the operator to withdraw the bolt and swing the beam sections 1 and 12 relatively about the axis Z.

The shaft sections 8 and 11, which deliver motive power to the rakes, as described in the aforementioned copending application, are interconnected at the point of intersection ofthe planes P, P and P by a coupling represented at 9, 10. This coupling can include a claw-shaped socket 9 whose axially open recesses 90 form notches which are engaged by the lateral pins 10 of the shaft 11. Thus, when the shaft 12 is swung in the clockwise sense about the axis Z, the pins 10 are engaged in the socket 911. The shaft 8 thus is able to drive the shaft 11.

The assembly is resiliently held in place by locking strap 13 which is anchored by a bolt 15 to the beam 12 and underlies at its free end 13 the ball member 6, 6'. Thus, the strap 13, whose slot 14 receives the projection 7 of the ball member 6, 6, bears upwardly against the ball member while drawing the section 12 downwardly. The handle 18 projects through the helicoidally extending camming slot B so that, as the lever 18 is rotated in the direction of arrow 18a (FIG. 6), the bolt 16 is drawn inwardly.

in the operating position of the machine corresponding to the solid-line illustration in FIG. 7 and the position of the beam sections 1, 12 of FIG. 1, the pins 10 are received in the socket S and the shaft sections 8 and 11 are intcrengaged. Thus, when the powertakeoff shaft 114 is driven, rotary movement is delivered to shaft 116 and thence, by gearing of the type illustrated in the copending application mentioned earlier, to the shaft 8, 11 for delivery to the rotors or rakes 117. In this position of the beam sections 1 and 12, the rakes span the maximum swath width W. It will be noted that the beam sections 102 through 106 are carried by respective support wheels 125, e.g. as described in the copending application, so that unevenness of the ground during the operative movement of the vehicle and implement in the direction of arrow 120 often causes strain at thejunction between the shaft sections. In the position of the device illustrated in FlG. l, the bolt 16 is received in bore 3. Since the ball joint permits limited relative angular movement of beam sections 1 and 12 about the axis X-X, unevenness can be accommodated without difficulty. The ability of the ball member 6 thereof to swing in the slot 14 permits such movement about the axis X- X or Y-Y without straining the joint. In fact, the slot 14 is dimensioned to permit an arcuate movement of at least on either side of its normal position.

When it is desired to transport the apparatus over roadways, the outermost arms 102, 106 can be swung upwardly and the arms [03, 105 inwardly to the dot-dash position illustrated in FIG. 7. This swinging movement is permitted by withdrawing the bolt 16 of the respective pivot assembly and permitting it to be forced by spring 17 into the other bore 4 upon pivotal movement through 90 (FIG. 2). This movement decouples the shaft sections 8 and 11 and affords compensation for road unevenness by permitting the members 1 and 12 to swing relatively through at least 20 on either side of the median position about the horizontal axis Y-Y.

The invention described and illustrated is believed to admit of many modifications within the ability of persons skilled in the art, all such modifications being considered within the spirit and scope of the invention except as otherwise limited in the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A pivot assembly comprising a pair of hollow beam sections relatively swingable to include an angle of less than 180 between them in one position thereof and axially aligned in another position thereof; a shaft extending through said beam sections and axially subdivided into a pair ofinterconnectable shaft sections disengaged from one another in said one position and mutually interconnected in said other position of said beam sections; and pivot means interconnecting said beam sections for relative pivotal movement thereof between said positions about a first axis laterally offset from said shaft in said other position and perpendicular to the axis thereof, and a second axis generallyparallel to one of said shaft sections in one of said positions, said second axis intersecting said first axis, said hollow beam sections forming part of an articulated beam for a haymaking machine towable by an agricultural tractor, said shaft being driven from said tractor, said beam being provided with a plurality of rotary rakes operatively connected to said shaft and spaced along said beam for raking a ground crop upon advance of the beam and said rakes thereover, said first axis being generally upright and said second axis being generally horizontal.

2. The pivot assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot means includes a ball member mounted on one of said beam sections at a location laterally offset from said shaft, and a socket member formed on the other ofsaid beam sections and receiving said ball member, said members forming a balljoint permitting at least limited pivotal movement of said beam sections in all relative angular positions thereof about a horizon tal axis parallel to at least one of said beam sections.

3. The pivot assembly defined in claim 2, further comprising a retaining strap fixed to said other beam section and underlying said ball member, said ball member and said strap being formed with mutually engaging formations permitting at least limited angular movement of said members about said horizontal axis and defining said limited angular movement.

4. The pivot assembly defined in claim 2, further comprising slidable bolt means having an axis coplanar with said second axis and carried by said other section while cooperating with said one of said beam sections for locking the assembly in said positions.

5. A haymaking machine comprising a pair of hollow beam sections relatively swingable to include an angle of less than I between them in one position thereof and axially aligned in another position thereof; a shaft extending through said beam sections and axially subdivided into a pair of interconnectable shaft sections disengaged from one another in said one position and mutually interconnected in said other position of said beam sections; and pivot means interconnecting said beam sections for relative pivotal movement thereof between said positions about a first axis laterally offset from said shaft in said other position and perpendicular to the axis thereof, and a second axis generally parallel to one of said shaft sections in one of said positions, said second axis intersecting said first axis, said pivot means including a ball member mounted on one of said beam sections at a location laterally offset from said shaft, and a socket member formed on the other of said beam sections and receiving said ball member, said members forming a ball joint permitting at least limited pivotal movement of said beam sections in all relative angular positions thereof about a horizontal axis parallel to at least one of said beam sections; and a plurality of rotary rakes mounted on and driven by said shaft sections, wherein said other of said beam sections is formed with a lateral projection generally coplanar with the respective shaft section and formed with said socket member and with an outwardly extending sleeve having an axis coplanar with the respective shaft section and with said second axis of said socket member while extending radially therefrom, said one of said beam sections having a lateral flange lying generally in a horizontal plane and provided with an arcuate transverse rim having a pair of generally radial bores separated by an angle of approximately about said first axis, one of said bores having an axis parallel to the shaft section of said one of said beam sections, the other of said bores having an axis parallel to said shaft section of said other of said beam sections, said other of said beam sections being further provided with a radially slidable cylindrical bolt received in said sleeve and fittable in said bores, and with a compression spring in said sleeve resiliently urging said bolt into the respective bore in the respective positions of said beam sections.

6. A haymaking machine as defined in claim 5 wherein said ball member has a cylindrical shank received in said flange and an axial projection extending therebelow, said other of said beam sections being formed with a retaining strap under lying said flange and provided with a longitudinal slot receiving said projection with freedom of relative angular movement mations automatically interfitting and releasing upon swinging movement of said beam sections about said first axis.

9. A haymaking machine as defined in claim 8, wherein said beam is provided with a multiplicity of spaced-apart rotary rakes driven by said shaft, at least some of said rakes being swingable beyond other of said rakes upon relative movement olsaid beam sections through an angle of from one of said positions to the other of said positions. 

1. A pivot assembly comprising a pair of hollow beam sections relatively swingable to include an angle of less than 180* between them in one position thereof and axially aligned in another position thereof; a shaft extending through said beam sections and axially subdivided into a pair of interconnectable shaft sections disengaged from one another in said one position and mutually interconnected in said other position of said beam sections; and pivot means interconnecting said beam sections for relative pivotal movement thereof between said positions about a first axis laterally offset from said shaft in said other position and perpendicular to the axis thereof, and a second axis generally parallel to one of said shaft sections in one of said positions, said second axis intersecting said first axis, said hollow beam sections forming part of an articulated beam for a haymaking machine towable by an agricultural tractor, said shaft being driven from said tractor, said beam being provided with a plurality of rotary rakes operatively connected to said shaft and spaced along said beam for raking a ground crop upon advance of the beam and said rakes thereover, said first axis being generally upright and said second axis being generally horizontal.
 2. The pivot assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot means includes a ball member mounted on one of said beam sections at a location laterally offset from said shaft, and a socket member formed on the other of said beam sections and receiving said ball member, said members forming a ball joint permitting at least limited pivotal movement of said beam sections in all relative angular positions thereof about a horizontal axis parallel to at least one of said beam sections.
 3. The pivot assembly defined in claim 2, further comprising a retaining strap fixed to said other beam section and underlying said ball member, said ball member and said strap being formed with mutually engaging formations permitting at least limited angular movement of said members about said horizontal axis and defining said limited angular movement.
 4. The pivot assembly defined in claim 2, further comprising slidable bolt means having an axis coplanar with said second axis and carried by said other section while cooperating with said one of said beam sections for locking the assembly in said positions.
 5. A haymaking machine comprising a pair of hollow beam sections relatively swingable to include an angle of less than 180* between them in one position thereof and Axially aligned in another position thereof; a shaft extending through said beam sections and axially subdivided into a pair of interconnectable shaft sections disengaged from one another in said one position and mutually interconnected in said other position of said beam sections; and pivot means interconnecting said beam sections for relative pivotal movement thereof between said positions about a first axis laterally offset from said shaft in said other position and perpendicular to the axis thereof, and a second axis generally parallel to one of said shaft sections in one of said positions, said second axis intersecting said first axis, said pivot means including a ball member mounted on one of said beam sections at a location laterally offset from said shaft, and a socket member formed on the other of said beam sections and receiving said ball member, said members forming a ball joint permitting at least limited pivotal movement of said beam sections in all relative angular positions thereof about a horizontal axis parallel to at least one of said beam sections; and a plurality of rotary rakes mounted on and driven by said shaft sections, wherein said other of said beam sections is formed with a lateral projection generally coplanar with the respective shaft section and formed with said socket member and with an outwardly extending sleeve having an axis coplanar with the respective shaft section and with said second axis of said socket member while extending radially therefrom, said one of said beam sections having a lateral flange lying generally in a horizontal plane and provided with an arcuate transverse rim having a pair of generally radial bores separated by an angle of approximately 90* about said first axis, one of said bores having an axis parallel to the shaft section of said one of said beam sections, the other of said bores having an axis parallel to said shaft section of said other of said beam sections, said other of said beam sections being further provided with a radially slidable cylindrical bolt received in said sleeve and fittable in said bores, and with a compression spring in said sleeve resiliently urging said bolt into the respective bore in the respective positions of said beam sections.
 6. A haymaking machine as defined in claim 5 wherein said ball member has a cylindrical shank received in said flange and an axial projection extending therebelow, said other of said beam sections being formed with a retaining strap underlying said flange and provided with a longitudinal slot receiving said projection with freedom of relative angular movement of said beam sections through limits determined by the extent of said slot.
 7. A haymaking machine as defined in claim 6 wherein said sleeve is provided with a generally helicoidal camming slot, said bolt having a handle slidably received in said slot and enabling withdrawal of said bolt from the respective bore upon a rotary movement of said handle about said second axis in said slot.
 8. A haymaking machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said shaft sections are provided with matingly interengageable formations automatically interfitting and releasing upon swinging movement of said beam sections about said first axis.
 9. A haymaking machine as defined in claim 8, wherein said beam is provided with a multiplicity of spaced-apart rotary rakes driven by said shaft, at least some of said rakes being swingable beyond other of said rakes upon relative movement of said beam sections through an angle of 90* from one of said positions to the other of said positions. 